As the 2018 season begins this weekend with the PKBGT Invitational, the 2017 season came to a close at the Inspire. Dream. Achieve. Banquet Friday night. It was a special night of mentorship and celebration, with over 100 guests in attendance featuring multiple 2017 Order of Merit Winners and 4 PKBGT Alumni on Tour. In addition, our regional series partner, Storie Apparel, were there to personally recognize the Storie Apparel Regional Order of Merit Winners.
The following Order of Merit Champions were recognized:
Bell Order of Merit Winner: Amanda Sambach
Futures Order of Merit Winner: Maria Atwood
Storie Apparel NC Regional Series:
Prep Order of Merit: Emelia Pack
Futures Order of Merit: Kayla Dowell
Discovery Order of Merit: Ellen Yu
Storie Apparel Middle Atlantic Regional Series:
Prep: Paris Fieldings
Futures: Sue Lee
Discovery: Josephine Nguyen
Storie Apparel Southeast Regional Series:
Prep: Carleigh Greene
Futures: Ella Kue
Discovery: Alexandra Kennedy
After dinner, PKBGT Alumni on Tour took part in a Q+A session, speaking about their junior golf experiences and life on tour. Since all four Symetra and LPGA professionals in attendance were all PKBGT members, it was a special experience for PKBGT members to see the pathway these pros have gone on, especially since these professionals were once sitting on the other side of the audience preparing to play in the PKBGT Invitational themselves.
Professionals in Attendance:
Katherine Perry (LPGA Tour)/ 9-Time PKBGT Champion
Allison Emrey (Symetra Tour)/ 3-Time PKBGT Champion
Lori Beth Adams (Symetra Tour)/ 2-Time PKBGT Champion
Laura Wearn (Symetra Tour)/ PKBGT Alumnus- Won the 2016 Symetra Tour Gosling’s Dark N Stormy Classic
Although the professionals spoke mainly of their successes and experiences in college golf and professional golf, LPGA Tour member Katherine Perry still had a special, vivid memory from her golf career- “The Salisbury pool party”.
About the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour:
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour is an initiative of the Triad Youth Golf Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation aimed at increasing learning and playing opportunities for youth golfers. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the PKBGT offers affordable, high-quality nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and collegiate golf. The PKBGT is the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour with over 450 members in 2015 and 450 girls playing in or committed to collegiate golf. Learn more about the tour at pkbgt.org or by contacting Tour Director Mike Parker at mparker@pkbgt.org or 336-347-8537.
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